The writings on the wall

A week ago we heard from the President and then from so many other commentators about the status of the nation, I thought I might as well weigh in.

Here are my thoughts about what makes America great, though some of these things are missing, and, therefore, the state of the union is not great, but it is alive and well…on our way to reclaiming, reviving, renewing—one person to another, one meeting at a time.

At RSPC, we serve sandwich bags to people who have little money, no housing, and no place to use the bathroom. The state of the union is inhospitable when we cannot find in our common purse a way to make sure everyone has a roof over their heads and food to eat. Thanks be to God for the charitable contributions of religious institutions and other non-profits which share the abundance of creation with others in acts of justice. One which we support is Intown Collaborative Ministries.

At RSPC, we meet men and women asking for help with buying medicines and who are clearly in need of medical support. The state of the union is cruel when we cannot find in our common purse a way to make sure everyone has the basic healthcare they need and access to the medicines that cure or mitigate symptoms. Thanks be to God for the many non-profit hospitals and clinics that serve the uninsured with mercy and support from charitable contributions and grants. One which we support is Mercy Care street medicine services.

At RSPC, we celebrate diversity. Through our newest advocacy and educational program we are learning the gifts and needs of our immigrant neighbors. In additions we have chosen to affirm and celebrate the gifts of our LGBTQIA+ neighbors. The state of the union is inhumane when we cannot find the common humility to afford human rights to all without regard for nationality or gender identity, or sexual orientation. Thanks be to God for the work of so many individuals and agencies who advocate and provide for people in need, whoever they are. One which we support is Presbyterian Disaster Assistance refugee ministries.

At RSPC, we believe that finding common ground for the common good is not just a nice slogan; it is a vision and a call to join together to create a state of the union that is better today than yesterday and tomorrow will be even better. We believe that common ground is not the lowest common denominator; it is the highest human connection. We believe that the common good is not a redistribution of wealth making people poorer; it is a sharing of abundant resources that makes everyone richer.

At RSPC, we rejoice in each other. Because we have found that differences are not insurmountable, our similarities are not binding, and our intentions are benevolent. The state of the union includes all these things as well. We must quit hiding it behind the fear-based malevolence we so often hear about in social media, in the news, and face-to-face. We do not downplay the brokenness of our union. It is real. We simply believe it can be overcome, wherever 2 or 3 are willing to gather and listen and trust in the underlying good that dwells in each of us. That is our vision. That is what keeps us coming back together when failure stares us in the face.

Much has been said about Sen. John McCain having reached across the aisle, about how he and Sen. Kennedy were friends, about his interrupting a supporter to stop a false narrative about his opponent, then future President Barack Obama. Almost without exception these narratives have been celebrated as a universal common good we should all strive towards.

Democrats and Republicans alike have affirmed this conviction. Yes, they actually agreed on something. And surprisingly, it was that our differences should not divide us.

Soon the reverie around the Senator will fade and his grave will settle, and that goal will recede thus leaving little more than a footnote to the narrative of McCain’s death and life. Once again we shall return to the habits of division we have been manipulated into upholding, even promulgating.

Christian—you have another option! You can make a different choice. You have the freedom in Christ to freely associate with those you would name, “sinner,” “outcast,” “undesirable,” “deplorable,” “illegal,” “alien,” “evil,” “different,” “not like us.”

Christian—Christ has set you free to accept yourselves and to love God and neighbor, and be bound together with all believers in the church. (Brief Statement of Faith)

This particular invitation is specifically directed to the members of the Church. What better place to demonstrate the unity of God and the reconciliation of all creation? Where else is God going to do this work if not in Christ’s own body, the church? Who else to proclaim the gospel of reconciliation if not the followers of the Risen Christ who is our reconciliation? If we in the body of Christ cannot hear and be the word that proclaims, “there is no longer [many] for you are all one in Christ Jesus,” then God’s word of full reconciliation will be fulfilled without us leading the Way.

Christ offers an invitation, a place to practice our unity. Christ invites us to supper. We don’t come to the Lord’s Supper because we have everything in common or because we all believe exactly the same things or because we have the same theology. We come because we have ONE thing in common: we are invited by our Savior, Jesus Christ.

On Sunday, come, all you who are weary, and let Christ give you rest. And don’t worry about who else is invited, just rejoice that your name is on the list! Christian, maybe, the world would take notice of our reaching across the table—if we actually did so.

Set aside 12 minutes each day for reading and reflecting.

Holy Week March 26-April 1​Theme: God knows our suffering, endures our suffering even to a horrific death, God is still our hope and through Christ, in Christ, for Christ, brings new and good life out of the depths of hell.

Monday 3/26 Read John 12:1-11 In this gospel, the anointing of Jesus occurs before the entrance into Jerusalem at the home of Mary and Martha, Lazarus’s sisters. Lazarus was resurrected by God 3 days after his death. Mary honors Jesus. Judas steals from the group and the priests are trying to kill both Jesus and Lazarus. When have you been presented with an either – or situation? A choice to honor or a choice to disrespect? An opportunity to serve God or preserve what you have? What led you to the decision you made? What did you learn from the experience and consequences? Did your choice ultimately help or hinder your faith?

Pray: O God of many names, help me see you when I see any kind of poverty and guide me in your Spirit to serve you without hesitation wherever you may be found.

Tuesday 3/27 Read Isaiah 49: 1-7 Consider the creator of the universe saying to the chosen servant, “It is too small a thing,” that you are only for some and not for all. Sit with this claim that the servant of God is sent not to a chosen people but to all people in every nation. This week take notice of the “nations” around you at work, in the grocery store, behind the counter at your favorite fast-food place, picking up trash, mowing the lawn at the office park, speaking the news to you on our local networks….

Pray: Whenever I see a stranger, Light of the Nations, and when they don’t look like me, or come from the background I do, remind me, in the name of Christ, I am your ambassador to all peoples.

Wednesday 3/28 Read John 13: 21-32 Wouldn’t it be nice if Jesus would tell us who betrays him here and now? When have you had your heart broken by a betrayal? How would you describe the “death,” that occurred as a result?

Pray: Suffering Christ, forgive me for the ways I give up on you and walk away from you, and break your heart.

Thursday 3/29 Read John 13: 1-17, 31b-35 Have you ever gotten to bathe a baby? Or a person in need of assistance? Think on it. Remember the way their skin felt in your hands. Remember the sounds of the water or cloth or conversation. Remember the sight of a vulnerable person allowing you to cross their personal boundaries. What did you smell? If it could be described in a taste what would that be?

Pray: (Whatever comes to your mind, place it at the foot of the cross and trust that what needs to die with Christ will and what needs to live in him will return to you redeemed.)

Saturday 3/31Read Psalm 22 This psalm begins with brokenness and concludes in affirming the universal praise due to God. Have you ever been beat down, worn out, on rock bottom and still prayed to God because you know in God lies your hope?

Pray: May I remember, God of hope, that when I am weak, your love is, as always, strong enough to deliver me.

Sunday 4/1 CHRIST IS RISEN! (When you enter the 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary Worship however, it will look like you are going to the tomb with the early morning. This will allow a time of silent reflection on all that transpired for Jesus and the disciples this week, including the crucifixion and burial of Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.)

See you in worship: 9:00 a.m. casual, outside, brass ensemble, Hicks with Picks, celebration and communion; 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary—brass ensemble, from Passion to Resurrection, communion and new life. Following worship you are invited to remain for an Easter potluck in Fellowship Hall—meat and drinks provided, please bring a dish to share.

​Week 6 March 19-25Theme: God’s grace is unearned, unexpected—how should we respond to the gift?

Set aside 12 minutes a day for reading and prayer.

Monday 3/19 Read Jeremiah 31: 27-34 At the worst moment of their nation’s existence, about to become exiled, with the Temple about to be destroyed, when all hope was gone, God decides to speak again. This time God does not speak about punishment. Instead, God plants a seed of hope. Think about a dark time in your life. Where did hope come from for you? In what way could that glimpse of something better be the bloom of a seed planted by the hand of God?

Pray: With thanksgiving I pray to you even if at first I thought you were not involved, or worse, caused my pain. I am grateful because in the midst of suffering, hope surprised me.

Tuesday 3/20 Read Jeremiah 31: 27-34 The promise is that everyone will know God and everyone will be God’s people. Have you ever thought, “Well I shouldn’t have to tell them –they should’ve known better,” about anything? Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought, “I should’ve known better?” What blocks your mind from knowing what is already on your heart? In what way can you let the Spirit of God free you to know and be known?

Pray: God of revelation, open my eyes that I may see, my ears that I may hear, my life that I may serve, my heart that I may love.

Wednesday 3/21 Read Psalm 51: 1-12. Pause and think about the things in your life that seem in some way broken, relationships, work, physical well-being, emotional stability—whatever you endure that brings grief to your life and seems to linger without resolution. Simply bring those to mind without analyzing. Sit silently for 2 minutes. Return to the psalm and pray it as you read.

Prayer: Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Thursday 3/22 Read Hebrews 5: 1-10 Most of the time Christians celebrate the choice Christ made to become a human being. This text invites us to consider that God appointed the human Jesus to become a priest and Jesus accepted the calling. Our baptism is meant to signify our appointment to the priesthood of all believers. In what ways are you “priestly?” What sacrifices have you made to fulfill your calling as a priest?

Prayer: Christ, in you I see the joy and sorrow of serving God’s beloved children. May I accept my role in your ministry with joy and endure any suffering with hope in you, Living God.

Friday 3/23 Read John 12: 20-33 To whom would you go and say, “I want to see Jesus.” Why them?

Prayer: Thank you for sending people my way who show me the face of Christ.

See you in Loudermilk Worship: Gospel @ The Rock 7:30 p.m.

Saturday 3/24 Read John 12: 20-33 Who in your life right now might be seeking something more? Are there specific conversations that offer moments when you might hear them saying in other words, “I wish to see Jesus?”

Prayer: Surprise me O God, as you open my eyes and ears, with the many ways people I meet and people I know really want to see you. Since I am there with them already, help me show them your way.

Sunday 3/25​See you in Sanctuary Worship: From Palms to Passion 11:00 a.m.

Monday 3/5Read Ex. 20:1-17 There are three uses of the law according to our forebears in faith. The first use of the law is like a mirror. Sometimes we think because we are not “breaking the law,” we are good and righteous. But when we engage it like a mirror, we can begin to see the ways in which we do not live by the law.~How does your conscience help you decide between right and wrong?~What convicts you of the error of your ways?~Which of the 10 Commandments is most difficult in your life? Which is easiest?

Pray: Holy One, help me see more clearly the shortcomings in my life so that I may rely on you as my light and hope.

Tuesday 3/6 Read Ex. 20:1-17Today consider how the law in this text acts as a curb or boundary marker. In what ways do you obey because “it’s against the law?” How does punishment in general motivate you and specifically, in faith, how does fear about the consequences of breaking the law help you or hinder you in your spiritual growth?

Pray: Thank you, God, for using even my fear of suffering to guide me in your way like a light in the darkness.

Wednesday 3/7 Read Ps 19In this Psalm we see a poetic understanding of a third use of the law. Here we recognize the gift of heaven on earth as we obey the law in gratitude for what God does in our lives. It is God who is using the law to encourage and push us to live a more godly life. In the words of John Calvin,” The Law acts like a whip to the flesh, urging it on as men do a lazy sluggish ass. Even in the case of a spiritual man, inasmuch as he is still burdened with the weight of the flesh, the Law is a constant stimulus, pricking him forward when he would indulge in sloth.”

Pray: Thank you, God, for offering me a vision of what I should not do. Thank you, God, for offering me a vision of what I must do. Thank you, God, that with the law I may begin to exemplify my trust in you by obeying your word.

Thursday 3/8Read I Cor 1: 18-25Paul introduces us to the realization that our human obedience and application of the Law tended to make us believe we in charge of our destiny. Humankind, by creating rules to live by, even using the rules God gives us, tends to drive us toward thinking we are wise in our own eyes. For believers to claim God’s presence in a tried and executed criminal is to turn that thinking upside down.

Pray: Christ Jesus, if the law can kill even you, how can I escape the same sentence? Help me understand the foolishness of “wise,” and the wisdom of your life as good news for me.

See you at worship in Loudermilk: Gospel at The Rock, 7:30 p.m.

Friday 3/9Read John 2:13-22What laws are the moneychangers breaking such that Jesus is infuriated with them? How do churches “buy and sell” the faith today? How much would you pay to know God loves you?

Monday 2/19: Read Gen 6: 5-6 and 9: 8-17Question: How many times today do you hear a unique news item about a violent human encounter? (murder, armed robbery, rape, shot, killed, etc.) How many times do you hear a “good news” story?Pray: O Lord, have mercy. My grief is great, my heart is heavy. Lord, have mercy. Bless me that I may be a bearer of good news for your people. In Christ, I pray. Amen.

Tuesday 2/20:Read Gen 6: 5-6 and 9:8-17Make a peace jar. For every time you hear or say the words, “kill,” “shoot,” or related words of violence, even as a joke – ‘you kill me, you’re so funny,’ – deposit a quarter. Do this throughout Lent.Pray: O Lord, have mercy. My grief is great, my heart is heavy. Lord, have mercy. Bless me that I may be a bearer of good news for your people. In Christ, I pray. Amen.

Wednesday am 2:21: Read Ps 25: 1-10Question: Do you remember a “sin of your youth?” Confess it to God. Write it down. Tear up the paper into as many pieces as possible and throw it away. Reread verse 7 and say aloud, “O my God, in you I trust.”Pray: God of love, grant me a teachable spirit. Help me follow your path of steadfast love and faithfulness.

Wednesday pm 2:21:Read Ps 25: 1-10Question: Who are your “enemies?” Are they flesh and blood or disease, aging, personal struggles, your own self-talk? All of this or something else entirely? Name your enemies.Pray: God of love, do not let my enemies exult over me. Grant me a teachable spirit. Help me follow your path of steadfast love and faithfulness.

Thursday 2/22:Read 1 Peter 3: 18-22Tell someone what you know or remember about you baptism. Wonder together why it matters today that you were baptized.Pray: God of the waters, thank you for delivering me through the flood.

Friday 2/23:Read Mark 1:9-15Who are those around you that call you “beloved?” Call, text, or write them a brief note to tell them you love them.Pray: God in heaven, may I become your voice for someone who needs to hear the words, “you are loved.”Come to worship the God of love at “Gospel @ The Rock.”

Saturday 2:24: Read Mark 1:9-15Share good news of any kind with 3 people today.Pray: Bless me that I may be a bearer of good news.​Sunday 2:25: Come to worship the God of Love at Sanctuary Worship.

​Did you make a New Year’s resolution? Keeping it? Do you traditionally “give up” something during Lent? Want to?

For the next 6 weeks, the Christian church observes a season of fasting and prayer focused on self-examination. We’ll pick up six themes. You are invited to spend time during the week with the Scriptures and a question towards considering that theme. The hope is to come to end feeling more centered in God and less scattered in the world.

And another thing, our thoughts and prayers are clearly not what God calls us to in the words of Isaiah 58. God pushes us out of the boat of safety from the storm and into the chaotic waters of serving others. Prayers are critical for the strength we need to move forward in action. They are not the remedy God demands when sin abounds. Thoughts for the wounded must remain upon us to move our feet. But thoughts are not the consolation we give to the needy when evil erupts in violence. This movement from prayer, and thought, to active service will be the Lenten theme. We will be regularly invited to pick up our cross and follow Jesus, even at the risk of our own lives.

Set aside 12 minutes every day for reflection.Week 1

February 14-18, 2018

Read this Scripture every day: Isaiah 58: 1-12Wednesday 2/14:Review what you ate and the cost. FYI: The Atlanta Food Bank provides $9 of food or 4 meals for every dollar donated. Question 1: How much food do I throw away and can I reduce the waste? Write down how much you save between now and Sunday.

Thursday 2/15: Count the number of garments you have worn in the last week. Then count the number of garments you own for this particular season. Come to Gospel @ The Rock Worship.Question 2: Can I donate 10%, a tithe, to a clothes closet? If so, shall I do so?

Friday 2/16: Go into each of the rooms in your home and remember something special that happened here. Say a prayer of thanksgiving for your home when you are finished. FYI: Clifton Presbyterian Church began a homeless ministry in 1979 that continues this day even though the church closed in 2003.Question 3: To whom have I offered “shelter” when they were in need of a safe place to land?

Saturday 2/17: Say a prayer by name for your living relatives.Question 4: Is there anyone for whom I harbor anger? Is there anyone from whom I am “hiding?” Imagine reconciling and write a letter of forgiveness, even if you never mail it.

​“Who are you,” asks the children’s catechism. The response is, “I am a child of God.” We are then to know that we are children of God because we belong to God who loves us. As we grow up and continue to learn about our faith, there is another answer for this question of what makes us children of God. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus says peacemakers are children of God. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church, he explains that our ministry is the same as Christ’s ministry: reconciliation.

The Prince of Peace calls us to become peacemakers and to work for reconciliation just as Christ does. This theme runs through the Biblical witness regarding God’s intention for humankind.

When I was a teenager one of the popular songs in church was, “Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now….” This sentiment and calling still tugs at me.

When I preside at the communion of the church in Christ’s name and at God’s table, it is a daunting experience. I truly believe that everyone is invited. Which means that sometimes I am uncomfortable when I think about who might sit next to me in coming reign of Christ. Maybe the person next to me bullied me. Maybe I thought that person across the table was mean. What if I am afraid of that person? What if that one there did something really heinous and violent? What if I just think they’re snobs and won’t like me so I don’t like them?

See the problem? That thinking is all about me, and not about the life and work of Christ. It is all about becoming God the Judge instead allowing God to be my loving parent.

The miracle of grace we have in Christ is this: no one is excluded and yet everything evil is purged by God such that the guests of God are blameless before their host through the life and faithfulness of Jesus Christ. Even me.

I am welcomed and healed as well. Healed of my hatred,my judgements, my desire for punishment for those evildoers, and ultimately, healed of my own evil-doings. Everything that disrupts peace is removed so that I can seeboth the image of God in my fellow dinner guests and theimage of God in the mirror as well.

We come to the table of grace now not because we are already free of the grip of sin but because we know none of us can be eternally in its grasp. We belong to God, who loves us. We have been reconciled to God in Christ. We come to be nourished for the job of making peace. We come to practice peacemaking at this table. We come to remember that we all belong together.

Advent is an eagerly-anticipated time of year. Well, maybe, for some of us, it is a dreaded time of year. Whatever your gut reaction to Advent may be, Advent provides us with a unique opportunity for wonder, for questions, for comfort, and for spiritual exploration. It’s also the time when it’s actually OK to hear Christmas music in stores and restaurants.

Traditionally the word advent means “coming” or “arrival.” I prefer its dynamic sense: someone is on the way; someone is moving toward us with great urgency. Someone wants passionately to be among us in the ups-and-downs of our real lives, to bring new energy to our labors, our joys, our sorrows. That someone is Christ.

There is a paradox inherent in our Advent observance. We prepare ourselves for the arrival of someone who has already come. “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:7) That happened already. So what are we waiting for?

When we celebrate Communion, the celebrant declares, “Every time we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the death of our Lord Jesus, until he comes again.” Jesus has been here. Jesus is coming again.

In this mysterious in-between time, we have a renewed opportunity to wake up, to pay attention, to watch for the ways Christ is moving among the realities of our world. We also hear a voice calling us to do more than watch. For each of the four weeks of Advent, our worship team is providing you with a prayer guide in the hope of providing you with a few tools to enrich your Advent experience and your Christmas celebration. We also hope these guides will deepen your awareness of God’s love for you -- and your neighbor.

​This week Peter and Cornelius act on their visions. For Cornelius it's easy: follow orders and send for Peter, for you are to be rewarded for your prayers and alms. There seems to be no downside. The only trap that Cornelius falls into is worshiping Peter instead of God who Peter serves; the charismatic personality instead of God who gives the charism, the gift of grace.For Peter, there's a massive departure from his comfort zone. As he points out “it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile.” It breaks his holiness code and therefor threatens the thing he values most – his relationship with the Lord. It threatens his very identity as a Jew. Now they are together “in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded.” As a result of Peter and Cornelius acting on their visions, we have a scene of diverse people come together: Jews and Gentiles, Cornelius' family and slaves and soldiers. All come together for the purpose of hearing what God has to say through Peter. We should also leave comfort zones, obey God's visions, come together and listen to God.